Gracilis Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Oct 4th, 2022

The gracilis is a long, slender muscle on the medial aspect of the thigh.

Gracilis Muscle (Musculus gracilis)

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Adductor Longus and Gracilis (highlighted in green).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Adductor Longus, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis and Gracilis (highlighted green).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Adductor Magnus and Gracilis (highlighted green).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Gracilis.

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Attachments of Gracilis

Origin (proximal attachment):
a. Inferior border of pubic body near symphysis.

Insertion (distal attachment):
a. Proximal medial surface of tibia (part of pes anserinus).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Adductor Longus and Gracilis (highlighted in green).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Gracilis.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Gracilis at the inferior border of pubic body near symphysis and the insertion at the proximal medial surface of tibia (part of pes anserinus).

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Actions of Gracilis on the thigh (femur):

a. Adducts thigh at hip. (It also flexes the leg at the knee and medially rotates leg when knee is flexed.)

Need an extra hand learning the muscles of the leg? Look no further than these comprehensive 3D anatomy videos.

Slide 1 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 2 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 3 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 4 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 5 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Nerve to muscle and its spinal segment:

Obturator nerve (L3, L4).

An Overview of the Anterior Muscles of the Thigh

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9 and the answers are concealed.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 8. Sartorius 9. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Sartorius 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Sartorius 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 6. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Vastus Lateralis 5. Vastus Medialis 6. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Vastus Lateralis 4. Vastus Medialis 5. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Vastus Intermedius 4. Vastus Medialis 5. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Vastus Intermedius 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 3. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Brevis 2. Adductor Longus 3. Adductor Magnus 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 3. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Longus 2. Adductor Magnus 3. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 2. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Magnus 2. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only muscle labelled 1 is Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Gracilis at the inferior border of pubic body near symphysis and the insertion at the proximal medial surface of tibia (part of pes anserinus).

Test yourself while observing the Gracilis muscle

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